Special maternity leave in case of infant death- The HINDU-05-09-2022

Special maternity leave in case of infant death
GS-1
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

CONTEXT : Central government has decided to grant a 60 days special maternity leave to women of central employees.

PRELIM :

What is special Maternity benefit ?
The Centre has decided to grant a 60-day special maternity leave for women Central government employees in case of stillbirth or death of an infant within a few days of birth, an order by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
What is significance of special maternity leave ?
The benefit of special maternity leave shall be admissible only to a female central government servant with less than two surviving children and for child delivery only in an authorized hospital.
The decision has been taken keeping in view the potential emotional trauma caused due to the stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth, which has a far-reaching impact on the mother’s life.
The DoPT said it has been receiving several references/queries requesting clarification pertaining to the grant of leave/maternity leave in case of the death of a child soon after birth/stillbirth.
The condition for death of a child soon after birth may be defined as up to 28 days after birth, said the order issued to all central government ministries/departments. A baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation may be defined as stillbirth.